Framing Your Summer

If you are looking forward to a more relaxed, daily routine this summer while also wondering about the minutes and hours of each day, I would say you are not alone. The ages of your children will have an influence on your daily routine; nonetheless, all homes of school-aged children will contain some similarities. Just as a photo frame has similar elements: a four-sided structure of various sizes and materials; likewise, the elements that frame your summer might look similar to another family’s. Here are four segments that you might consider as you "frame" your summer:

1. Home routine – consistency is key (snack-time, lunch time, kitchen rules, order of the day)
2. Play time – together with siblings or friends and ALONE play time
3. Devotional time, life application, and chore time
4. Rest / nap time alone in child’s room

Routine - Before your children are dismissed for the summer (May 14), begin to think and plan. Children do well with routine. Daily routines and rhythms provide consistency and structure for children; they love the dependability it provides for their little lives. Talk to your children about how your summer days will look.  If you have a summer vacation planned, make a "count-down" construction paper chain to the day you leave home.  Each day remove one of the "chains". Locate your destination on a map or globe, check out books from the library. Make predictions about what you might do and see once you are at your location.  Talk about what types of clothes to pack. Pull your child into the planning as much as is age-appropriate.  An older child can write a list of items to take.Play time – I am a big proponent of children learning to play by themselves and learning to wander through books alone. Train your children to ENJOY doing this. Even sitting at a child-sized table or desk with craft items galore is a good use of alone time. Do NOT feel like you must entertain your child every minute of every day. You will rob your child of important skills – learning to self-occupy and to be responsible for him or herself. Creative play is usually birthed from boredom – oh, that word! Contrary to popular belief, boredom is not a bad word, but don’t say it in front of my mother!  Boredom is the channel through which creativity can flow, and so is unstructured TIME!Devotional time and chore time – make sure there is Bible reading, memory work and the responsibility for chores woven into each day or week. Before leaving the bedroom, is the bed made and room tidied neatly?  Having green beans for dinner is an excellent choice because little fingers can learn to snip. Husking the corn is another great chore!  And so on…contributing to the family work instills a sense of confidence and contribution in children. Stay tuned for more on ideas for Bible time during our Evening of Encouragement, April 27, 8-9 p.m. Plan to tune-in to hear our teachers give wonderful suggestions!Rest/naptime – I believe requiring children to rest or nap or look at books quietly in the afternoon is a must. Moms need this and so do children. Remember who is in charge here! Creating space between you and your children will help you enjoy each other’s company all the more once this afternoon siesta time is over! Set a kitchen timer and leave it in the hallway is just one idea.SUMMER – an opportunity to make memories as you spend time together in an unhurried fashion![embed]https://youtu.be/HASzH4D9UC0[/embed]